Stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors, menopause symptoms and physical health in women

Title
Stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors, menopause symptoms and physical health in women
Publication Date
2009
Author(s)
Bauld, Rosie
Brown, Rhonda
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Place of publication
Ireland
DOI
10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.12.004
UNE publication id
une:5103
Abstract
Objectives: Relatively few studies have evaluated relationships between stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors and menopause symptoms, and none have evaluated emotional intelligence (EI) in relation to menopause. In this study, direct and indirect relationships were evaluated between stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors (e.g. social support, coping, EI), menopause symptom severity and physical health in middle-aged women. Methods: One hundred and sixteen women aged 45–55 years were recruited through women’s health centres and community organizations. They completed a short questionnaire asking about stress, psychological distress (i.e. anxiety, depression), EI, attitude to menopause, menopause symptoms and physical health. Results: Low emotional intelligence was found to be related to worse menopause symptoms and physical health, and these associations were partly mediated by high stress, anxiety and depression, a negative attitude to menopause and low proactive coping. Conclusions: Women with high EI appear to hold more positive attitudes to menopause and experience less severe stress, psychological distress and menopause symptoms and better physical health. These results suggest that women who expect menopause to be a negative experience or are highly stressed or distressed may be more likely to experience a more negative menopause.
Link
Citation
Maturitas, 62(2), p. 160-165
ISSN
1873-4111
0378-5122
Start page
160
End page
165

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